Local markets and plazas

 

This past weekend I went to the neighboring town of Lambayeque to see a few museums and a local market. I utilized another interesting mode of transport, the" colectivo" .  These are essentially long distance taxis that  you share with other passengers to reduce the cost.  I'm not sure how they get organized but there are certain street corners and garages that you go to where these things congregate.  You simply holler out what city you want to go to and look around to see if any of the drivers take notice.  As soon as you get over to the car other folks have congregated and are also getting in.  It cost me 45 cents to take a 30 minute car ride with three other people.  Great!  Of course, I'd like to get a bike.....see below. 

 

The markets here are very colorful, busy and odoriferous, you might say smelly.  I'm sure that many of you are familiar with this style of marketplace.  The variety of items and authenticity of Peruvian culture is exactly what I was looking for when I signed up to come down here.   The first photo is of the shop of a herbal healer or cuarandero.  I've heard they have many ancient remedies that include psychoactive cacti.  I would assume that they also have medicinal mushrooms but I haven't looked into it.   

 

 

 

 

 

I've been trying to figure out the bike shops and have learned a few things. Below you will see a photo of one of the better bikes I've seen. Bike riding around here is going to be tough.. It's really dusty and when it rains it is a serious disaster with mud and flooded streets. Of course, out on the road you are on your own. There is very little respect given to anything other than a tractor-trailor or loaded dump truck.

Every city also has a Plaza de Armas or central square. They are know as Zocalos in Mexico. There will be a statue of The Virgin or a war hero surrounded by beautiful gardens. Without fail a huge Catholic Church is across the street.  They are a charming central gathering spot.  Despite some of the dilapidated infrastrucutre that I've seen, there is always a well manicured Plaza de Armas not far away.

 

More later on the school where I'm trying to figure out how to teach.  It's going very well.  The teachers and students are psyched to have me around and are not at all concerned about the difference in language.